Spring activated cuff links



March 31, 1959 A. MARTINEZ SPRING ACTIVATED CUFF LINKS Filed Nov. 19, 1957 INVENTOR- ALI-RED MARTINEZ United States Patent 2,879,571 SPRING ACTIVATED CUFF LINKS Alfred Martinez, New York, NY. Application November 19, 1957, Serial No. 697,485 1 Claim. (Cl. 24 -102) This invention relates to culf links, and more particularly to improved cuif links so designed that the respective end portions of the cuff links are connected by a novel connecting assembly designed to insure to the maximum extent that the cutf links will be held in proper position relative to each other when applied to a shirt sleeve cufi.

Cuff links as presently constituted have particular disadvantages, so far as links having a flexible connection are concerned. Most usually, chains are employed between the respective heads or end portions of a single link, and as a result, the end portions, which are usually ornamentally fashioned, tend to dangle loosely from the cutf, with resultant annoyance so far as the wearer is concerned, and with considerable loss of attractiveness of appearance of the cutf links.

The broad object of the present invention is to provide generally improved cuff links that will not have any of the ditficulties noted above, and that will constitute ornamental jewelry designed for locating the end portions in a prescribed relationship relative to each other and to the cuif to which they are applied, with said relationship being such as to display the links to their best advantage.

Another object is to provide cuif links as described, which, though having the characteristics noted above, will nevertheless be designed for manufacture at a comparatively low cost, little greater than that involved in the production of cuff links not having the advantages of the present invention.

Still another object is to provide cuff links that will be so formed that the connecting assembly thereof, though having the particular advantages and benefits hereinbefore noted, will be substantially wholly concealed from the casual viewer. I

A further object of importance is to permit the incorporation of the novel connecting assembly constituting the present invention in any of various types of cuff links, including not only the type wherein each cuif link has opposite but identical ornamentally fashioned heads, but also the type wherein the cufl link at one end has an ornamentally shaped head and at the other end has a crossbar designed to aid in holding the cuff link in proper position, and without possibility of loss, on the sleeve cutf.

A further object of importance is to provide cuff links as described wherein the connection between the heads or link elements, in at least some forms of the invention, will be resiliently contractile, in a manner to firmly engage the respective link elements against the adjacent portions of the cuff, whether said cutf be of the barrel type or, alternatively, the double or French type.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

, 2,879,571 Patented Mar. 31, 1959 Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a cuff link according to the present invention in which one of the links is shown in section, the dotted lines showing said one link in the position to which it moves when the link is applied to the shirt sleeve cuff.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of one of the link elements, showing the engagement of the connecting assembly therein.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of a modification, showing in dotted lines 9. moved link.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of another modification, wherein the locking arms embodied therein are shown in inoperative and operative positions respectively in full and dotted lines.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view on line 7--7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of one of the locking arms.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view partly in side elevation and partly in section showing a fragmentary portion of the locking arm means, with the locking arms being operatively engaged in a chain.

Fig. 10 is a view like Fig. 1 of still another modification.

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view on line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings in detail, designated generally at 10 in Figs. 1-3 is a cuff link, this term as used herein being intended to mean a cuff link means applied to a single cuff. In any event, the illustrated cuff link is of the type including opposite but identical, enlarged, hollow, ornamentally fashioned link elements 12, those shown being of approximately hemispherical shape and being so designed as to include body portions of hollow formation formed at one end with inwardly directed, circumferential lips 14 fixedly secured to the marginal portion of a fiat, circular base plate 16. The hollow bodies of the link elements are centrally formed with large openings 18 through which extend the end portions of a chain 20, the extremities of said chain being secured within the respective link elements to rings 22.

A contractile, coil spring 24 is circumposed about the intermediate portion of chain 20, and has ends 26 extending through openings 18 and fixedly secured by soldering or equivalent means to the inner surfaces of the body portions of the respective link elements.

In this connection, although only .one of the link elements is shown in section in Fig. 1, it will be understood. that the internal construction of the other link element will be identical to that shown in section.

Rings 22 are greater in outer diameter than the diameters of openings 18 and form abutments limiting the chain against movement out of the openings. As a result, spring 24, tending to contract, draws the link elements toward each other so that they are held firmly in engagement with opposite surfaces of a sleeve cuff, not shown, through the cult link or buttonholes of which the chain 20 and spring 24 extend.

In use, the link elements are pulled apart against the restraint of spring 24 to engage the cuff link with the cuff. On release of the link elements, they, are immediately drawn toward each other by the resilient yielding connection defined by spring 24. The chain, of course, limits the movement of the link elements away from each other beyond a position in which undue strain, tending to permanently deform the coils, is placed upon the spring.

In other words, the chain limits the spring against extension beyond a predetermined, overall length. Further, the chain tends to act somewhat as a stiffener, preventing excessive flexure of the spring in a lateral direction.

By reason of this arrangement, the cuff links, though having a flexible, resiliently yielding connection therebetween, are held substantially in coaxial alignment, and do not dangle loosely from the cuff, being instead held firmly against the opposite surfaces of the cuff.

In Figs. 4 and 5, a modification is shown wherein the cuff link 28 includes opposite but identical hemispherical link elements each having a concavo-convex, hollow body 30, internally flanged at its outer end and fixedly secured to the flat base plate 32. Centrally formed in each body 30 is an opening 34, through which extends a connecting chain 36 the ends of which, within the respective link elements, are secured to rings 38 the outer diameters of which are greater than the diameters of the openings 34.

A resilient, yielding connection between the link elements comprises, in this form, a rubber tube 40 having at its ends outwardly directed flanges 42 cemented or otherwise fixedly secured to the inner surfaces of the respective bodies 30. The end portions of the tube extend through the openings 34, so that the chain 36 is completely concealed. The tube 40 is axially elongatable, and tends to contract in the same manner as spring 24, so as to draw the link elements toward each other when they are applied to a cuff to hold the same against dangling and to engage said link elements firmly against opposite surfaces of the cuff.

In Figs. 6-9 another modification is shown wherein cuff link 44 includes link elements each of which has a flat base plate 46 to which is secured an ornamental, partspherical body 48. Body 48 can be solidly formed in this instance in view of the fact that the chain 50 extending between the link elements is connected to ears or equivalent means 52 carried by the base plate 46.

Carried by the respective base plates are locking arms 54 one end of which is embraced by cars 56 and pivotally connected to said cars by a pivot pin 58. The locking arms swing between the full and dotted line positions of Fig. 6, and at their distal ends have noses 60 of tapering formation, the outer surfaces of said noses being curvingly shaped, one nose having a small lug 62 and the other having a complementary recess 64.

In use of this form of the invention, normally the arms are retracted to their full line positions of Fig. 6, in which positions they will be held by binding frictionally against the inner surfaces of the ears 56. The cuff links are applied in the usual manner to the cuff, after which the arms are swung to their dotted line positions of Fig. 6, that is, to their locking or operative positions (shown also to advantage in Fig. 9).

In this position, both locking arms engage in the link of chain 50 located medially between the link elements, and at the same time the locking arms lockingly interengage by'movement of lug 62 into recess 64. In effect, the connecting means between the link elements is transformed from a wholly flexible element such as chain 50 to a connector that includes rigidly constituted portions having limited pivoting movement relative to each other, the axis of the pivotal movement being defined by the lug 62 which engages movably in recess 64. The relative pivotal movement of the arms is limited to a substantial degree by engagement of the noses thereof in the link of chain 50, so that in effect the link elements are held against dangling loosely from the cuff, and are firmly en gaged in position against opposite surfaces of the cuff.

In Figs. and. 11 there is shown another modification wherein the cuff link generally desErated 66 includes opposite but identical link elements which may be of various shapes. For the purpose of the present invention, it is merely essential that the link elements be hollow and hence, by way of illustration they are shown as including hemispherical bodies 68 of hollow formation, having internally directed peripheral flanges fixedly secured to a base plate 70. Centered in bodies 68 are openings 72 through which extends a connecting chain 74. The ends of the chain are disposed within bodies 68, extending through compression, coil springs 76, the diameters of which are greater than those of openings 72, said springs at one end abutting against the portions of the bodies 68 immediately surrounding openings 72. At their other end, the springs abut against flat discs 78 having eyes 80 to which the chain ends are connected.

Springs 76, tending to expand, resiliently yieldably bias discs 78 away from each other, that is, away from their adjacent openings 72. This tends to pull the chain 74 taut, and in effect has the desirable result of shifting the link elements toward each other.

Thus, the link elements when applied to a shirt sleeve cuff will be held in firm engagement with opposite surfaces of the cuff and will not dangle loosely. However, the link elements can be resiliently yieldably shifted in a direction axially of the springs away from each other during the application or removal of the cuff links.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that 1 do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent A cuff link comprising spaced, confronting link elements, and a connecting assembly for connecting said elements to each other, said assembly including a flexible member extending between the link elements and means tending to stiffen said member against flexure, said link elements having confronting openings with said flexible member extending through the openings, the connecting assembly including rings connected to the opposite extremities of the flexible member within the respective link elements, said rings being greater in size than the diameter of said openings to limit the flexible member against movement out of the openings, said flexible memher being loosely positioned through the openings of the respective link elements, whereby the link elements are adapted to move toward each other along the length of the flexible member, the means for stiffening said member against flexure comprising a contractile, coil spring extending between the link elements, said spring extending through the respective openings adjacent its ends, the ends of the spring being fixedly connected to the respective link elements, saidv flexible member extending through the spring whereby on contraction of the spring said link elements will be drawn toward each other along the length of the flexible member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 563,768 Holman July 14, 1896 1,436,204 Slater et al Nov. 21, 1922 1,543,785 Modrell June 30, 1925 1,837,039 Gober Dec. 15, 1931 2,510,988 Lewis June 13, 1950 

